Outside of the In-Crowd – Why We Hate: Seth Rogen
Courtney Enlow |
“Why We Hate” is a new feature, devoted to the latest objects of universal loathe and rejection. One might wonder why such a feature is necessary, but one would be foolish and naive. We are a generation of turncoats. We turn in droves, and when we turn, we leave a searing circle of burning hate in our wake.
The current recipient of our hate circles? The pudgy dude who told Donnie Darko’s girlfriend “I like your boobs.”
I don’t know the exact date or place it happened, but somewhere between a 2003 episode of Dawson’s Creek in which he portrayed “Bob” and the recent release of Funny People, some decided that they no longer loved the schlub. Perhaps a timeline will clear things up.
1999 – He appears on one of the most beloved-by-the-twelve-people-who-watched-it shows of all time, Freaks and Geeks. Public opinion: Hugs and snuggles.
2001 – He stars in Undeclared, of which I only ever catch one episode (and the DVD of which now sits distantly in my Netflix queue), so I got nothing, but I love it on principle. Public opinion: “And you are…?”
2004 – He appears in Anchorman as the laughing cameraman in the cat show. He has one line. I say, “Hey, it’s Ken!” and them promptly forget he was in the movie until just now looking at IMDb. Public opinion: Too focused on Christina Applegate to notice.
2005 – He appears in The 40 Year Old Virgin, which instantly becomes one of my top five or six favorite comedies ever, and steals a good chunk of his scenes. Public opinion: Genius from Geniusville.
2006 – He appears in You, Me, and Dupree. I see it in the theater and not only forget he was in it, but forget I ever saw said film in the first place, and am going completely on the word of my boyfriend. Public opinion: “That guy’s pretty okay. But seriously, fuck Kate Hudson.”
2007 – Knocked Up happens. His awesomeness ignites the film career of buddies Jason Segel, Jay Baruchel and Martin Starr, two of whom previously languishing in post-Apatow television indie standstills, one of whom plays Marshall Eriksen, my favorite character on TV. His awesomeness also makes people ignore that Heigl wasn’t that good in the movie. Pubic opinion: Depends on who you ask. People who didn’t see/disliked the movie: “Hate him, and that movie was so unrealistic. She’s too hot for him.” People who saw/liked the movie – “Love him, but that movie was so unrealistic. He’s way too good for that harpy.”
2007 – Then Superbad happens, and becomes one of the most cherished comedies in years. Public opinion: On par with puppies and breathing.
2007-2008 – Various voice-over roles. Public opinion: Starting to shift slightly. Is this guy in everything?
2008 – Pineapple Express becomes beloved by stoners and non-stoners alike. Public opinion: We’re sorry we ever doubted you, snuggles, let’s blaze and hold hands.
2008 – Zack and Miri Make a Porno is seen by no one but me. Public opinion: Apparently confused and didn’t realize that the film wasn’t actually a porn, but even that doesn’t make the most sense, because I think more than $30 mmillion worth of people would have seen that out of curiosity alone.
2009 – Paul Blart, obviously made over a weekend, is released mere months before Observe and Report. Evidently there can be only one mall cop movie, and it has to be the one not about bipolar disorder and date rape. Public opinion: “He totally copied off Kevin James. Also, Segways! Hilarious!”
2009 – Funny People is advertised as a comedy and either people find out it isn’t and don’t see it, or people don’t find out, see it and tell everyone else to eschew a thoughtful movie. Because, you know, to hell with thought and thinking; it gets in the way of dick jokes. Also, he’s thin now. Public opinion: DIE DIE DIE!
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God willing, this will shift before Green Hornet, but I’m not so sure. I’m also not sure how to help him. Overexposure is what’s being claimed the most, apart from “He was never funny and I hated him before you did and only Antony Hegarty understands me and I don’t own a TV,” but how does one become non-overexposed? It’s not his fault. He’s made good career choices. He’s just made them really close together.
I suppose the first “Why We Hate” should actually be a “Why You Hate?” but that sounds vaguely racist, and I know why you hate. I just don’t think you have good reasons. We cannot gather together and reject good comedy, people. Because you know who wins? Paul Blart, and Larry the Cable Guy, and Carlos Mencia, and somehow Twilight‘s in there too. I’m sorry that the Arrested Development movie’s not out yet, but in the meantime, this is about as good as it gets. So be nice to our Jew-nadian friend. He’ll get fat again soon, we promise.
Courtney Enlow is a writer living in Chicago and working as a corporate shill to pay the bills. You can contact her at courtney@hobotrashcan.com.
I’m still solidly in his corner Court. I just think that he’s funny as Hell. Agree with your assessment that Katherine Heigl was way too hot for him in Knocked Up but swaying her with his sincerity and her fears did lend credibility by the end of the film. I hope he has a long, solid career.
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I can only half-blame an actor for getting work when he can. Just like an athlete cashing in on a big contract when he gets the chance, he’s probably thinking “I gotta get paiiiiiiiid!” Although overexposure does = death/backlash. He’ll inevitably have another adored role, probably as a sidekick and people will say “That Seth Rogen! He’s BACK!” an interview will be done about “How does it feel to get back to this point? To prove your doubters wrong?” Then he’ll lose a Best Supporting Actor nomination to someone like Jeremy Irons. Which, no one could complain about because it’s Jeremy fucking Irons, and Seth Rogen is just lucky to be nominated and will be too high to care.
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People who say that Knocked Up is unrealistic because she is way too hot for him have obviously never gotten drunk and slept with someone the complete opposite of their norm. Can’t we all just love actors who have once made us laugh and off and on continue to do so? Who are we going to be forced to hate next, Johan Hill? I think America is just afraid of Gingers taking over the movie scene.
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smuck Reply:
May 9th, 2016 at 12:55 am
It’s called rape you silly ol’ bear.
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Luckily, I have been shielded from the Seth Rogen hate. I wasn’t aware that the masses had begun to turn on him. Then again, I don’t hang out in the same cool circles that Courtney does.
I still love the guy. He’s got an undeniable charm and a lovable everyman quality. I actually really enjoyed his performance in Funny People too. I thought he did a great job and I loved his relationship with Adam Sandler.
So I’m not sure why people have turned against him, unless it’s simply because he became mainstream, which means that he’s not “cool” to like anymore. Or perhaps Jonah Hill was right in Funny People when he said Seth Rogen never should have lost all the weight because “there’s nothing funny about a physically fit man.”
Still, great new feature, Courtney. I’ll be interested to see who else you can spotlight.
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Casey, Casey, Casey !!! (Read:Tsk,Tsk,Tsk.) Do I have to stage a fatherly type intervention for you to deal with this whole drinking, sleeping around thing? Just kidding!!!
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Oh CourtsDad that made me laugh (hate saying lol but that’s what I did). I have only experienced that once and once was enough for me to straighten up!
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All right then. Intervention canceled!!!
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Oh he is a terrible- No, no, no, make that a horrible actor. The only reason he gets into Hollywoood Movies is because he’s a Jew! He’s hopeless at acting he always plays the same unfunny, emotionless, roles…!!! Plus he’s Jewish so that help’s him in his roles that are always the totally the same!!! G_D! I HATE HIM!!!
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For future reference:
Actors of fully Jewish background: -Logan Lerman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Mila Kunis, Natalie Portman, Bar Refaeli, James Wolk, Julian Morris, Esti Ginzburg, Kat Dennings, Erin Heatherton, Odeya Rush, Anton Yelchin, Paul Rudd, Scott Mechlowicz, Lizzy Caplan, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Gal Gadot, Robert Kazinsky, Melanie Laurent, Marla Sokoloff, Shiri Appleby, Justin Bartha, Adam Brody, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Gabriel Macht, Halston Sage.
Actors with Jewish mothers and non-Jewish fathers -Jake Gyllenhaal, Dave Franco, Scarlett Johansson, Daniel Radcliffe, Alison Brie, Eva Green, Emmy Rossum, Jennifer Connelly, Eric Dane, Jeremy Jordan, Joel Kinnaman.
Actors with Jewish fathers and non-Jewish mothers, who themselves were either raised as Jews and/or identify as Jews: -Andrew Garfield, Ezra Miller, Alexa Davalos, Nat Wolff, James Maslow, Josh Bowman, Ben Foster, Nikki Reed, Zac Efron.
Actors with one Jewish-born parent and one parent who converted to Judaism -Dianna Agron, Sara Paxton (whose father converted, not her mother), Alicia Silverstone, Jamie-Lynn Sigler.
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